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CPB Home Press Releases Consumer Links

Consumer Publications


The Consumer Protection Board (CPB) provides information on a wide variety of current consumer issues.  The following list is a sample of our brochures.

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Child Safety

Crib Safety Guide for Parents and Caregivers - Cribs that are assembled wrong, have missing, loose or broken hardware or broken slats can result in entrapment or suffocation deaths. Learn safety tips by reading the CPB's Crib Safety Guide for Parents and Caregivers
Beware! Halloween Fire Hazards - Learn about fire hazards associated with Halloween
Formula for Keeping Babies Safe - The Consumer Protection Board's New Safe Babies Program
Do Not Wake My Baby! - Learn to prevent some unwanted sales calls from interrupting your baby’s nap
Making Your Home Safe For Grandchildren - A guide to helping Grandparents provide a safe environment for all to enjoy
Childhood Choking Prevention - In furtherance of our "Safe Toys NY" campaign, the NYS Consumer Protection Board (CPB) reminds parents to stay vigilant about which toys, foods and other household items to which they allow their children access. Prevention is your best defense in preventing choking among youngsters. Please keep this list handy and share with your family, friends and any of your child's caregivers
Ride Safe NY - Parents and children can visit the Ride Safe NY website to learn tips for safer amusement parks. You can also find regulations/records regarding your favorite NY amusement park and fun kid activities teaching amusement park safety
Home Playground Safety Checklist - To help parents and caregivers in providing a safe and fun playground for their children, the NYS Consumer Protection Board (CPB) has joined with the CPSC and Safe Kids USA to provide a safety checklist to all New Yorkers
4 Tips For a Safer Playground - You are encouraged to follow these guidelines for playground safety before your children play on the equipment
Top 5 Hidden Hazards in the Home - Important tips to ensure your children are safe within your home
Swimming Safety - Important tips to ensure your children are safe in the water
Safety in the Water - Nationally, on average, 283 children younger than 5 drown in pools and spas each year (and these tragic incidents mostly involve 1-2 year olds). Additionally, children are injured and killed when they become entrapped by the force of suction at the drain because of a missing cover. The CPB offers tips to consumers to make sure their children and loved ones are safe in the water, including in pools and spas, where there is a noted increase in drownings by the CPSC
Raising Baby on a BUDGET - While you are enjoying this special time with your little one, we encourage you to take the time to make and stick to a budget to help accommodate some of the extra financial responsibilities you will incur
Childproofing Your Home - Walks parents through 12 easy steps to childproofing your home
"Keeping Baby Safe" Checklist - Provides you with this list of tips to help you keep your child safe through all stages of development by identifying possible hazards in your home
Weekly Expense Planning for Baby - By considering the costs associated with your precious new arrival, you will be able to adjust your household budget accordingly
When is Hot Water Too Hot? - Tips to consumers to make sure their children and loved ones are protected from extremely painful and possibly fatal scalding burns
Baby Sleeps Safest Alone - Provides parents information regarding child safety when sleeping, including public service announcements, posters and brochures
Be Video Wise - A parent's guide to video games for children
Car Seat Safety Tips - Important safety rules to keep your baby safe in the car
Toy Safety Tip Card - Help keep your child from harms way by following these toy safety tips
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Handbook for Public Playground Safety

Do Not Call

Business Compliance Tips for Do Not Call - An easy to follow guide for businesses to comply with the Do Not Call Law
Do Not Call Information Bookmark - A bookmark highlighting the Do Not Call Registry for consumers
Do Not Wake My Baby - Learn to prevent some unwanted sales calls from interrupting your baby’s nap

Financial

Money Mark Bookmark for College Students: That’s SO Money - A bookmark produced by the Consumer Protection Board providing useful tips regarding credit card maintenance and preventing and mitigating identity theft
Credit Card Brochure  - Provides consumers with information on how to choose and use credit cards without falling into debt
Debt Collection Brochure - Debts you owe & debts you don't: How to spot and fight illegal debt collections tactics
Money Maps: Chapter 1 - Budget planning for young adults
Money Maps: Chapter 2 - Choosing a credit card and understanding credit
Money Maps: Chapter 3 - Learning to keep your credit card information safe and stave off identity theft
Money Maps: Chapter 4 - Choosing the best cellular service and phone for your lifestyle
Tax Filing and Privacy Tips: - Providing state taxpayers with important tips to remember when preparing and filing tax returns
Unraveling The Mystery Behind Credit Reports - Assists consumers in accessing and understanding their credit reports

Fraud

10 Ways to Avoid Scams - Find out how you can avoid scams, courtesy of the CPB
Senior Scams - Provides seniors with important tips on how to protect themselves from becoming a victim of a scam artist
Scams Targeting the Military - Identifies common scams affecting military personnel and their families and provides tips on how to avoid those scams

Health, Nutrition, Travel and Safety

You Are What You Eat! Food Terminology Brochure - A CPB guide to food terminology, purchasing and related consumer information
Safe Travels - Tips for packing for safety
Travel Safety Checklist - Advises consumers to follow important travel tips for safety, convenience and cost effectiveness
Travel Scams - Tips to help you avoid being the victim of travel fraud
Travel Myths - Separating facts from fiction: A Consumer Guide to Travel
Food Shopping Tips - A "Recipe" for Smart Shopping. Tips for the Savvy Food Shoppers
Health Club Tip Sheet - Looking for a Health Club? Here are a few helpful questions to ask
Helmet Safety - Play safe. Wear a helmet. There are different helmets for different activities. Each type of helmet is made to protect your head from injuries related to a specific sport

Home Improvement

Consumer Tool Kit to Home Improvement - Learn about rip-offs and common tools and lines of persuasion offered by some unethical contractors in this publications
It's Easy Being Green - Choosing nontoxic products to clean will make your household safer for your family while helping to preserve the environment. Here is a list of the most common, inexpensive homemade cleaners. Follow all safety guidelines and protect your skin and eyes while cleaning so as not to cause irritation
Tips and Tools for Home Improvements - Tips, advice and a sample building contract to help consumers find and work with a home improvement contractor

Home Ownership

Home Purchasing Roadmap: How Much? - Steps towards buying a home, buying
versus renting, figuring out how much
Home Ownership Check List - This brochure provides consumers with important tips to follow before purchasing a home

Identity Theft

Back to School - Keeping Your Child’s Identity Safe
A Consumer Guide to Preventing and Responding to Identity Theft - Identity theft is the most common consumer fraud complaint, and the fastest growing financial crime. Learn how to prevent falling victim to this crime and the steps to take if it happens to you
Keeping Your Child’s Identity Safe - Have bills, credit cards or debt collection calls started coming to your home in your child’s name? Learn how to protect your child from identity theft
Dealing with Identity Theft in the Context of Domestic Violence - Victims of domestic violence can be particularly vulnerable to identity theft. Survivors of domestic violence often need to take extra precautions to protect themselves from abusers who may use their personal information as a means of control. This resource provides information to victims of domestic violence to assist in recovery from identity theft
Identity Theft Victim Quick Response Checklist Poster – A poster highlighting quick response actions to identity theft victimization
The Identity Theft Keycard: Five “Key” Steps for Identity Theft Victims - A wallet-size card with five “key” steps to taken when consumer have fallen victim to identity theft
Identity Theft Victim's Journal - Use this resource to keep detailed records of all entities contacted to rectify the identity theft and re-claiming his/her good name
Identity Theft Victim’s Restitution Journal – A victim of identity theft can use this resource to keep detailed records and receipts of all expenses incurred and time lost in rectifying the identity theft and re-claiming his/her good name
 Personal Identification Documentation (PIDD) Card - The Consumer Protection Board has created this tool to assist consumers in tracking important personal information which should be stored in a safe please where it can be easily retrievable. (Printing Instructions: Print the attached pdf, then fold it in half on the short fold and then left to right to create the card.)
Security Freeze Law Brochure  - This brochure explains the New York State Law that provides consumers with a tool to help avoid becoming a victim of identity theft
Security Freeze Q & A's - New Yorkers have a new weapon to use against Identity Theft: the New York State Security Freeze Law
Tipcard to Prevent Identity Theft - A Consumer Guide to Preventing and Responding to Identity Theft

Information Privacy

Back to School - Information Privacy Bulletin Board (K-12) - A reminder to parents and guardians to make safeguarding their child’s personal identifying information a priority
Back to School - College-Bound Privacy 101 - Tips that can help keep your personal information private while attending college, trade school or graduate school
NYS Security Breach Law - What consumers should know about the security breach law and notification
Record Retention - Protecting your personal information by disposing of your documents in the appropriate manner and timeframe
Security Breach Data Check List - Steps to take and questions to ask when personal information is lost or stolen from a company's computer system
Think Privacy: Passwords - Passwords are the first line of defense in protecting personal information on our computers. Here are ten suggestions to help you create stronger passwords
Think Privacy: Cloud Computing - Learn about Cloud Computing and how it affects consumers

Internet

Security Measures for Consumers Accessing the Internet - A guide to safe computing practices
Family Internet Safety - A guide for parents and children
Internet Tips on Terms - A glossary of commonly used terms
Internet Brochure - Provides consumers with information on how to find the right connection for high-speed Internet access
Internet Safety Tips - Internet and Computer Safety Tips for on-line users

Private Career Schools

Is Your Private Career School Licensed? - Learn about what State licensed private career schools offer students

Shopping and the Stretch Your Dollar Effort (SYDE)

Student Textbook Affordability Considerations for Faculty
Textbook Pricing Resources
The 411 on Textbooks Bookmark - In response to the rising costs of textbooks and school supplies, Governor Paterson and the NYS Legislature passed the Textbook Access Act of 2008. Learn about the Act and how it affects students by reading this bookmark
Textbook Savings Guide - Students and their families continue to look for ways to save money on college-related expenses given the high cost of tuition at schools of higher learning. As textbooks have become a significant investment each semester, the New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB) is offering the following tips to save on these items
On Your SYDE Champ's Cents Savvy for Kids
On Your SYDE Back To School Savings Tips
On Your SYDE General Savings Tips
On Your SYDE Grocery Shopping Tips
On Your SYDE Gas Savings Tips
On Your SYDE At Home Food Prep Tips
On Your SYDE Household Savings Tips
Consumer Tips for Online Shopping - Tips and advice to help ensure that transactions you make online are safe and secure
Gasoline Prices - Offering New Yorkers some suggestions on how to maximize your money and save at the gas pump
Gift Card Tips - Consumers often purchase gift cards that may be subject to fees, imposed by issuers. Consumers need to be aware of the terms and conditions when purchasing and using a gift certificate or card. The NYS Consumer Protection Board provides these tips to inform and empower consumers of their rights
Jewelry Buyer's Guide - Whether it is Valentine's Day, Graduation, a Birthday, Wedding Anniversary or time to pop the BIG question, jewelry may be the perfect gift for your loved-one or friend. The NYS Consumer Protection Board (CPB) is pleased to provide you with these important tips to follow before making a jewelry purchase
Online Auctions - Internet auctions are becoming the most popular way to shop online - This guide is designed to show you how to get the most out of your internet auction experience
Tips for the Wise Consumer - How to be an informed and empowered consumer

Utilities

A Consumer Guide to Telephone Services - Rapid change in the telecommunications industry provides opportunity for consumers to benefit from new telephone service.  This guide provides an overview of telephone service options
Choosing a Wireless Phone Plan - Questions to ask when choosing a wireless phone plan
Consumer tips concerning door-to-door marketing of energy services - Read this brochure if you are considering obtaining electricity and/or natural gas from a supplier other than your utility
Digital TV Transition - Learn about the digital television (DTV) transition set to happen on February 17, 2009 and how it affects you
Get the Picture: Television Technology - Each television type has benefits and limitations. Learn what they are in this CPB brochure
Home Heating with Oil and Propane - This brochure provides plain-language information to assist consumers in shopping for heating oil and propane, helps consumers reduce their home heating bills, and increases awareness of New York State programs to encourage conservation and assist low-income consumers with their heating bills
Fact Sheet Regarding National Grid and KeySpan Merger - This fact sheet summarizes the merger between National Grid and KeySpan and explains its impact on customers of all of the affected utilities in New York State

Audio

ConsumerCast

ConsumerCast is a new audio feature of the New York State Consumer Protection Board. ConsumerCast will appear the first Wednesday of each month providing helpful consumer information. Preview versions of the feature, in English and Spanish, are posted in advance of the official launch of the podcast series.


Videos

Foreclosure Intervention

These videos provide information to homeowners on where to reach out for help when facing the risk of foreclosure. For more assistance and possible solutions when having trouble making mortgage payments, please visit www.nw.org which can be found on our website under Consumer Links and Resources.

Stretch Your Dollar Effort (SYDE)

The New York State Consumer Protection Board offers dollar stretching tips and has started compiling lists of ideas and audio/video clip tips received from consumers.

Public Awareness Campaigns

Consumer Awareness Campaign

Consumer Awareness Campaign:  In an effort to raise public awareness about what the CPB can offer through mediation, assistance and other resources, the Agency launched a massive advertising campaign this Spring.  30 Second Radio Ad   60 Second Radio Ad   Television Ad

Identity Theft Awareness Campaign

The New York State Consumer Protection Board and the New York Giants launch a public service campaign to raise awareness about Identity Theft for New York’s consumers.

Radio Ad         Television Ad

Safeguard Your Personal Information Campaign

Check out the new public service announcement, subway and railroad ad campaigns raising awareness to safeguard your personal information.

30 Second Radio Ad           Subway Ad               Railroad Ad

To receive copies of any CPB brochure, please click here to e-mail your request. For your convenience, many of our publications can be downloaded or viewed by clicking on the document name.